Refrigerator door fastener



D. C. E. LEONARD REFRIGERATOR DOOR FASTENER June 8, 1937.

Filed Jan. 20, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 8,1937. D. c. E. LEONARD REFRIGERATOR DOOR FASTENER Filed Jan. 20, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 1937- D. c. E. LEONARD REFRIGERATOR DOOR FASTENER Filed Jan. 20, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 8, 1937 PATENT OFFICE H REFRIGERATOR DOOR FASTENER David Charles Elwyn Leonard, Hagerstown, Md.,

assignor to Jamison Cold Storage Door Company, Hagerstown, Md.

Application January 20, 1936, Serial No. 59,945

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in fastening devices for refrigerator doors, and more particularly to an improved fastener for a refrigerator door of the type which overlaps the door frame.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fastener for a refrigerator door of the type which overlies the door frame wherein a latch bolt is mounted on the edge of the door for cooperation with a keeper and is independently connected to an operating device on the door whereby the fastener may be conveniently used to accommodate doors of various thicknesses.

A further object of the invention is to provide -a fastener for a refrigerator door of the above type wherein a pivoted latch bolt is provided with meanscooperating with a stationary keeper for aiding in tightly closing the door and in forcibly opening the door.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fastener for a refrigerator door of the above type wherein a latch bolt having cam means cooperating with a keeper for opening and closing the door, is connected to an independently mounted operating device by means which pera mit the fastener to be used to accommodate doors of various thicknesses. I The above and other objects will in part be obvious and will be hereinafter more fully disclosed. I

In the drawings:

Fig. l is aside elevation of the improved fastening device in position on a door, the door being closed.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the fastening device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view partly in section of the device shown in Fig. 2.

The invention relates generally to a fastener for a refrigerator door of the type which has a substantial portion thereof extending outwardly beyond the door frame or casing and more particularly to a refrigerator door of the type which entirely overlaps or overlies the frame. An opcrating handle is carried by a shaft mounted on the front of the door. The shaft is povided with an arm which extends beyond the edge of the door and is connected by a link or other suitable means to a'latch bolt which is pivotally mounted 5 on the edge of the door. The latch bolt is provided with cam faces which cooperate with a keeper mounted on the door frame. Spring means are provided for operating on the latch bolt so that one of the cam faces serves by spring actuation, which may be supplemented by manual ressing of the handle, to tightly seal the door in a closed position. .The other cam face on the latch bolt aids in. forcibly opening the door. Thus, the keeper may be mounted close to the door frame so that the necessity. of having projecting portions thereon extending far out from the casing is obviated. The latch bolt can also be mounted on the door near the keeper and any desired thickness of door may be accommodated by changing the length of the link or other means which connects the latch bolt with the handle shaft, or by providing some adjustable connection therebet-ween.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawings,,the door It! is illustrated as being of the type which has the edge thereof entirelyoverlying the opening of the door frame II. This particular type of door and frame construction affords a Wide sealing area for a gasket I2, or other suitable packing means, which is secured beween the frame and the overlapping edge of the door. A keeper I3 is mounted on the door frame II and consists of a bracket having a base portion I4 which is secured by bolts I5, or the like, to the frame I I and a protruding portion I6, which is illustrated as being conical in shape. 0n the end of the protruding portion I6 is mounted a bolt I! which serves as a shaft or bearing to support a roller I8. The keeper I3 is spaced from the edge Illa of the door when in a closed position, and the bolt or bearing I! with the roller I8 thereon extends horizontally to a position adjacent the edge of the door. A bracket or supporting plate I9 is mounted on'the edge Illa of the door by means of bolts 20, or the like. The plate I9 carries a bolt 2| which serves as a bearing to support a sleeve 22 which is held thereon by a nut 23. A latch bolt in the form of a hook is provided with a hub portion 25 which fits over the s1eeve 22. Thus the sleeve 22 serves as a pivot for the latch bolt which has a vertically disposed rib portion 26 above the fulcrum or pivot point and a laterally extending portion 21 integral with the rib portion and merging into the hub portion 25. The laterally extending portion 21 of the latch bolt is shaped to providean inclined cam face 28 at the free end thereof. This cam face 28 merges into a reversely inclined cam face 29 which, in turn, is reversely curved to provide a retaining notch for the roller I8 on the keeper I3. The latch bolt is also provided with a projectingcam surface 30 disposed below the pivot point. The operation of the cam faces will be hereinafter more fullydescribed.

Mounted on the front lflb of the door I0 is a housing 3| within which is journaled a shaft 32 having an angular arm 33 extending outside of the housing and slightly beyond the edge Illa of the door. One or more links 34 are pivotally mounted on the end of the arm 33 by a bolt 35 and cotter pin' 36 or by some other suitable means. pivotally connected to the rib portion 26 of the latch bolt by similar securing means, in this instance, a bolt 35a and cotter pin 36a, above the pivot point of the latch bolt.

A coil spring 31 encircles the shaft 32 within the housing 3| and has one end 31a thereof connected to the housing and the opposite end thereof connected to .a collar '38 which is independently movable with respect to the shaft 32.

The handle 4| is fixed to the shaft 32 and is provided with teeth 40. The collar 38 is provided with ratchet teeth 39 which engage the teeth I 48 on the handle 4| so that the collar may be adjusted. The spring 3'! .constantly urges the collar 38 in a direction which tends to lock the interengaging teeth39, 40 through which this forceistransmitted to maintain the handle in a predetermined position. As shown in Fig. l, the spring 31 constantly urges the collar 38 in a counter-clockwise direction and the interengaging teeth 39, 40 transmit this force to keep the handle 4| in its raised position.

To open the door from the closed position shown in Fig. l, the handle 4| is moved against the action of the spring 31. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, this movement of the handle 4| will be away from the door. This movement of the handle will rotate the shaft 32 and the arm 33 thereon so that the latch bolt will be moved aboutits pivot 22 by the connecting links 34. The consequent rising of the end of the latch bolt will release the grip between the cam face 29 and the roller i8, and further movement of the latch bolt will bring the projecting cam 38 into engagement with the rollers i8. As the handle is moved further, the cam 30 will,

by its engagement with the roller I8, force the door, open and thus aid in overcoming any freez ing or sticking of the door to the frame. When the door is to be'closed, the cam face 28 will ride over the roller |8 andthe cam face 29 will be caused by the spring 31 to act upon the roller l8 to draw the door to a tightly closed position. The spring 31 thus aids in keeping the door tightly closed since it always tends to force; the cam'face 29 into tighter engagement with the roller 8. This spring actuation of the latch bolt may be supplemented by pushingthe handle 4| toward a .closed position, thus insuring a positive closing of the door.

Suitable means including an operating memtion of the collar 38 around the shaft 32,,andincrease the tension on the spring.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that a highly efficient refrigerator door fastener is herewith provided, the latch bolt and the handleshaft being independently mounted on the door and connected by independent means, such The opposite ends of the links 34 are.

ing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire'to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A fastener for a refrigerator door of the type which overlies the door frame on which a keeper is mounted, comprising a fixed pivot on the edge of the door, a latch bolt mounted on said pivot 'for cooperation with the keeper, an operating device mounted on the front face of the door independently of said latch bolt, and means for connecting said latch bolt with said operating device.

2. A fastener for a refrigerator door of the type which overlies the door frame on which a keeper is mounted, comprising a fixed pivot on the edge of thedoor, a latch bolt mounted on said pivot for cooperation with the keeper, an operating device mounted on the front face of the door independently of said latch bolt, and a link connecting said latch bolt with said operating device. 7

3. A fastener for-a refrigerator door of the type which overlies the door frame on which a keeper is mounted, comprising. a fixed pivot on the edge of the door, a latch bolt mounted on said pivot for cooperation with the keeper, an operating shaft mounted on the front face of the door and having a handle lever fixed'thereon, means connecting said shaft with said latch bolt for operatingthesameand spring meansv associated with said shaft for normally holding said latch bolt in looking position.

4. A fastener for a refrigerator door of the type which overlies the door frame on which a keeper is mounted, comprising a fixed pivot on the edge of the door, a latch bolt mounted on said pivot for cooperation with the keeper, a housing mounted on the front face of the door, a shaft.

journaled in said housing, an operating handle fixed on said shaft, an angularly extending arm fixed on said shaft anddisposed'beyond the edge of the door, and means for connecting said arm to said latch bolt whereby to operate the same;

5. A fastener for a refrigerator door of the type which overlies the door frame on which a keeper is mounted, comprising a fixed pivot on the edge of the door, a latch bolt mounted on said pivot for cooperation with the keeper, 2. housing mounted on the front face. of the door, a shaft journal'ed in said housing, an operating handle fixed on said shaft, an angularly extending arm fixed; on said shaft and disposed beyond the edge of the door, alink connecting said arm to said. latch bolt, and spring means associated with said shaft for normally holding said latch bolt in set position.

6. A fastener for a refrigerator door of the type which overlies the door frame on which a keeper is mounted, comprising a fixed pivot on the edge.

of the door, a latch bolt mounted on said pivot for cooperation with the keeper, saidlatch bolt having cam means opera-blein conjunction with the keeper for tightly closing the doorand having cam means operablein conjunction with the keeper for forcibly opening the door, an operating device mounted on the front face of the door independently of said latch bolt, and means conge ie a d latch b t w th a pera ic: ,de

7 A fastener for a refrigerator door of the type which overlies the door frame on which a keeper is mounted, comprising a fixed pivot on the edge of the door, a latch bolt mounted on said pivot and having cam means cooperating with the keeper to aid in tightly closing the door and in opening the door, a manual operating device mounted on the front face of the door independently of said latch bolt, and means for connecting said operating device to said latch bolt.

8. A fastener for a refrigerator door of the type which overlies the door frame on which a keeper is mounted, comprising a fixed pivot on the edge of the door, a latch bolt mounted on said pivot and having cam means operable in conjunction with the keeper for tightly closing the door, an operating device mounted on the front face of the door independently of said latch bolt, and means for connecting said operating device to said latch bolt.

9. A fastener for a refrigerator door of the type which overlies the door frame on which a keeper is mounted, comprising a fixed pivot on the edge of the door, a latch bolt mounted on said pivot and having cam means operable in conjunction with the keeper for aiding in opening the door, an operating device mounted on the front face of the door independently of said latch bolt, and means connecting said operating device with said latch bolt.

10. A fastener for a refrigerator door of the type which overlies the door frame on which a keeper is mounted, comprising a fixed pivot on the edge of the door, a latch bolt mounted on said pivot for cooperation with the keeper, said latch bolt having a cam face operable in conjunction with the keeper for tightly closing the door and also havng a projecting cam operable in conjunction with the keeper for aiding in opening the door, an operating device mounted on the front face of the door independently of said latch bolt and having a handle lever, means for connecting said operating device with said latch bolt whereby to operate the said latch bolt, and spring means associated with said operating device for normally holding said latch bolt in looking position whereby said cam face operating in conjunction with the keeper will maintain the door tightly closed, said projecting cam operating on the keeper when the handle lever'is operated to open the door to aid in forcing the door away from the frame.

11. A fastener for a refrigerator door of the type which overlies thedoor frame on which a keeper is mounted, comprising a fixed pivot on the edge of the door, a latch bolt mounted on said pivot for cooperation with the keeper, an operating shaft mounted on the front face of the door independently of said latch bolt, a handle lever fixed on said shaft, means for connecting said shaft with said latch bolt whereby to operate the said latch bolt, a collar mounted on said shaft, a coil spring encircling said shaft and having one end thereof fixed with respect to said shaft and having the other end thereof connected to said collar and operating to normally turn said shaft to hold said latch bolt in looking position, and

means connecting said collar and said handle lever for permitting relativemovement between said shaft and said 'collar whereby to adjust the tension on said spring.

12. A fastener for a refrigerator door of the type which overlies the door frame. on which a keeper is mounted, comprising a fixed pivot on the edge of the door, a latch bolt mounted on said pivot for cooperation with the keeper, an operating shaft mounted on the front face of the door independently of said latch bolt, a handle lever fixed on said shaft and having ratchet teeth adjacent said shaft, means for connecting said shaft with said latch bolt whereby to operate the said latch bolt, a collar on said shaft having ratchet teeth engaging the teeth on said handle lever, and means including a coil spring encircling said shaft and having one end thereof fixed to said collar for turning said shaft to normally hold said latch bolt in looking position, said interengaging teeth on said collar and on said handle lever permitting movement of said shaft in one direction independently of said collar whereby to adjust the tension on said spring.

DAVID CHARLES ELWYN LEONARD. 

